Reunion Won't Be Unique

2 Similar Events May Attract Black Students

DAYTONA BEACH — Organizers are wrapping up plans for Black College Reunion in April amid speculation that two other events might shrink the size of this year's crowd.

Black College Reunion, set for April 12-14 in Daytona Beach, usually attracts more than 100,000 people. This year's turnout is uncertain because a similar event will be held the same weekend in Jacksonville.

Promoter T.C. Copeland, who helped organize the Daytona Beach event for years, decided to move it to Jacksonville this year because of concerns he had about staging the event again in Daytona Beach. He has given the Jacksonville event a similar name.

Copeland said his Jam Splash Black College Reunion will siphon off many of the black students and young adults who normally travel to Daytona Beach. The new organizers for this year's Daytona Beach event disagree.

''We concluded from a logistical perspective that BCR was no longer plausible for Daytona,'' Copeland said. ''Daytona is not suited for that many people in that small area.''

Also planned in Daytona Beach for the same days is a Gospel Jubilee Weekend with concerts, competitions and religious services in the oceanfront Bandshell. That venue historically has been used for rap and R&B concerts during Black College Reunion.

Barry Simms, chairman of Daytona Beach's Black College Reunion Task Force, said he still expects 125,000 people - the same as last year's turnout.

''I don't think Jacksonville will have a dent in the Daytona event,'' Simms said. ''Daytona has been established for 10 years. It will be hard for Jacksonville to pull the event away.''

The task force has submitted preliminary plans to the city for concerts and gatherings at eight locations. The major event, a Reggae Sunsplash, would take place downtown at City Island Park and Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Concerts, athletic events and contests also would be held on the beach and at two parks off Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard.

In a recent memo from city officials, the task force was told to complete the final arrangements - including plans for providing crowd control, cleanup and other services - in time for the City Commission to consider this month.

The plan, along with a request to rent city facilities, is to go before city commissioners for approval March 20, according to the memo from city Leisure Services Director Patti Evans.